W. Robert ''Robbie'' Wallis

W. Robert "Robbie" Wallis, age 77, of Bel Air, MD and Las Vegas, NV, died on November 14, 2008 at Lorien Nursing and Rehabilitation in Bel Air, MD. Born in Bel Air, MD, he was the son of the late William Stanley and Flossie Marie Hayden Wallis.
He graduated from Bel Air High School in 1948, the last class to graduate from the building on Gordon St. He earned an AA degree from University of Baltimore in Pre-Law, but abandoned law when he was chosen to become News Editor of The Aegis.
He had a long newspaper career beginning with his employment with the Harford Gazette immediately after high school. When the Gazette was purchased by The Aegis in 1950, he chose to leave the newspaper business and worked at the Post Information Office. Eventually John D. Worthington II convinced him to join the Aegis as a news and sports writer, becoming the newspaper's first sports editor. His career at The Aegis spanned 38 years, and at the time of his retirement in 1990, he was Managing Editor of the paper. His first love was always writing sports and police news. He used his experiences as a reporter to write a novel entitled Inactive File which is scheduled to be released in 2009.

Robbie was a well-known figure in Bel Air. He worked at the Bel Air Theater, first as a projectionist in high school and later as manager. In the 1960s he owned the Capri Shop, Bel Air's first sub and pizza shop, and a popular late night stop.
Following his retirement from The Aegis, he worked with two business partners in a number of commercial real estate projects, the most recent being the construction of the Atwood Professional Building in Bel Air.

He was active in many state and local organizations and served on numerous boards and commissions. He was appointed by a number of Governors to various board and Commissions, including the Maryland Food Market Authority, the Maryland Motion Picture Censor Board and chairman of the Home Improvement Commission. His most recent appointment was eleven years as a member of the Maryland Stadium Authority, the oversight body for the construction of Camden Yards and Ravens Stadium.
He also served on the Boards of Fallston General Hospital and Franklin Square Hospital.

Mr. Wallis is survived by his wife of 31 years, Dr. Sandra R. Wallis of Bel Air, MD; sons, Donald S. Wallis of Baltimore, MD, Douglas L. Wallis of York, PA, Patrick M. Wallis of Bel Air, MD, Philip W. Wallis of Ronda, NC, David M. Wallis of Fallston, MD, David M. Christopher of Perry Hall, MD; daughter, Deborah A. Barnes of Westminster, MD; fifteen grandchildren, Charles Wallis of Hays, NC, Charlotte Wallis of N. Wilkesboro, NC, Donald Harward of Washington State, Kelly Wallis DiNicolo of Annapolis, MD, Megan Wallis Cooke of Baltimore, MD, Stephanie Wallis Kirk and Justin Wallis of York, PA, Anna Wallis and Maggie Wallis of Fallston, MD, Sean Wallis, Zachary Wallis, Emily Wallis, Sarah Wallis of Bel Air, MD, Hall Christopher and Greyson Christopher of Odessa, TX; and five great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a son, John Robert Christopher and a brother, Hayden Wallis.

Pallbearers will be Chuck Wallis, Sean Wallis, Justin Wallis, Zachary Wallis, Eric Rhodes, William Carsins, Paul Neeper, and Charles Anderson. Honorary pallbearers will be Charlotte Wallis, Stephanie Wallis Kirk, Anna Wallis, Maggie Wallis, Emily Wallis, and Heather Wallis.

Those who desire may contribute to Johns Hopkins Heart and Vascular Institute, 100 N. Charles St., Suite 400, Baltimore, MD 21201 or to SARC of Harford County, 18 S. Main St., Bel Air, MD 21014.